Group seeks resignation of library director

Round Lake society also recommends terminated employee be reinstated to her job

By Bob Gardinier

Updated 4:03 pm, Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Photo: Lori Van Buren

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Qualifying members of the Women's Round Lake Improvement Society pass a motion asking the library board to reinstate Theresa Marchione to her job at the library on Monday, June 10, 2013. A separate motion passed asking the board to request the resignation of the library director who fired Marchione. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Qualifying members of the Women's Round Lake Improvement Society pass a motion asking the library board to reinstate Theresa Marchione to her job at the library on Monday, June 10, 2013. A separate motion

Dan Shapiro speaks at a meeting of the Women's Round Lake Improvement Society, on Monday, June 10, 2013, where there was a vote on a motion to ask the library board to reinstate Theresa Marchione to her job at the library. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Dan Shapiro speaks at a meeting of the Women's Round Lake Improvement Society, on Monday, June 10, 2013, where there was a vote on a motion to ask the library board to reinstate Theresa Marchione to her job at

The Women's Round Lake Improvement Society passed a resolution Monday to ask the Round Lake Library Board of Trustees to ask for the resignation of the library director who terminated a popular longtime employee two weeks ago for closing 40 minutes early because of a tornado warning.

In a packed and emotional meeting, residents, who came out in support of the fired employee Theresa Marchione, demanded she be reinstated and the public told what led Director Carol Sheffer to fire her.

The group operates the library and appoints the board of trustees.

"We've been advised by legal counsel that the information should remain confidential while an investigation is ongoing," said Sandra Debus, president of the trustees. "We only recently got in writing Theresa's (Marchione) statement on what happen."

Some were not pleased.

"I really don't understand that," said resident Dan Shapiro. "You have already made a decision and this should not be confidential. You need to provide us with your rationale. We wish to know why that employee was fired."

Neither Sheffer nor Marchione attended the meeting. Marchione has refused comment and Sheffer could not be reached for comment.

Board members said the director can fire employees but the action can be reviewed by trustees.

"There may be flaws in that process and we will be looking into it," Debus said of the director's powers.

Village Mayor Dixie Lee Sacks, who is also a member of the library society, introduced the resolutions that will be taken up by the board of trustees at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the village hall.

"My initial reaction was that Theresa should not have been fired but she did not give the trustees a statement in writing until today," DeLorio said. "Give them a chance to review this case before jumping to any conclusions."

The 18 voting society members present also passed a second resolution sponsored by Sacks to ask trustees to reinstate Marchione with back pay.

Marchione evacuated and closed the library around 7:20 p.m. May 29, instead of its regular 8 p.m. closing time, Sacks has said. Marchione asked patrons to vacate the library so they could seek shelter from severe storms. bgardinier@timesunion.com - 518-454-5696 - @BobGardinier